Transcontinental Railroad: Construction and Economic Impact (1863–1869)

1. Pacific Railroad Act creates federal-backed project

   Jul 1, 1862Labels: Pacific Railroad, Abraham Lincoln

   • National Archives
   • Britannica

2. Central Pacific breaks ground in Sacramento

   Jan 8, 1863Labels: Central Pacific, Leland Stanford

   • CA Parks
   • National Archives

3. Union Pacific begins construction from Omaha

   Dec 2, 1863Labels: Union Pacific, Omaha

   • WyoHistory
   • National Archives

4. Congress strengthens subsidies in second Pacific Railway Act

   Jul 2, 1864Labels: Second Pacific, U S

   • Britannica

5. Central Pacific expands Chinese labor force

   Jan 1, 1865Labels: Central Pacific, Chinese laborers

   • National Archives
   • Truckee History

6. Work begins on Sierra’s Summit Tunnel (Tunnel No. 6)

   Aug 1, 1865Labels: Summit Tunnel, Donner Pass

   • Truckee History
   • CPRR Museum

7. Nitroglycerin introduced to speed Summit Tunnel blasting

   Feb 1, 1867Labels: Nitroglycerin, Summit Tunnel

   • ASCE
   • CPRR Museum

8. Union Pacific reaches Cheyenne, creating a key railroad hub

   Nov 13, 1867Labels: Cheyenne, Union Pacific

   • WyoHistory

9. Tracks run through Summit Tunnel, opening Sierra passage

   Dec 1, 1867Labels: Summit Tunnel, Sierra passage

   • ASCE
   • CPRR Museum

10. Central Pacific reaches Truckee, signaling Sierra conquered

    Apr 3, 1868Labels: Truckee, Central Pacific

    • HAER LOC

11. Central Pacific reaches Reno, accelerating eastward expansion

    Jun 19, 1868Labels: Reno, Central Pacific

    • HAER LOC

12. Central Pacific sets “Ten Mile Day” track-laying record

    Apr 28, 1869Labels: Central Pacific, Ten Mile

    • CPRR Museum
    • Wikipedia

13. Golden Spike ceremony completes the first rail link

    May 10, 1869Labels: Golden Spike, Promontory Summit

    • Utah History
    • NY Times 1869

14. Crédit Mobilier scandal becomes symbol of railroad-era corruption

    Jan 1, 1872Labels: Cr dit, Union Pacific

    • Britannica